Dark Retreats

Can light deprivation lead us to the light?

The Tibetan Buddhist esoteric practice of a dark retreat, in which practitioners remove all light stimuli for 49 days, has long been shrouded in secrecy. The practice is a simulation of the bardo, the transitional consciousness state at the time of dying. Esteemed Tibetan medical practitioner and teacher Dr. Nida Chenagtsang has become an advocate for selectively bringing this practice to the fore as part of his healing practice. In this exploratory conversation, he guides Prof. Robert A.F. Thurman and the audience through the process of inner exploration.